Shoe-positioning and holding means



Nov. -l 1949. 1.. G. MILLER 2,486,535

SHOE-POSITIONING AND HOLDING MEANS Original Filed July 23, 1947 3 Sheets-sheet 1 In 0 en for Lloyd G Miller is A G. MILLER SHOE-POSITIONING AND HOLDING MEANS Nov. 1, 1949.

3 Sheefs-Sheet 2 Original Filed July 23, 1947 [n21 rz for Lloyd G M'ller By lw's Attorney Nov. 1, 1949. L. G. MILLER SHOE-POSITIONING AND HOLDING MEANS 3 Sheets- Sheet 3 Original Filed July 23, 1947 Inventor Lloyd G? Miller- BZ hi Patented Nov. 1, 1949 SHOE-POSITIONING AND HOLDING MEANS Lloyd G. Miller, Beverly, Mass., assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Original application July 23, 1947, Serial No. 762,841. Divided and this application August 11, 1948, Serial No. 43,570

- 15 Claims. 1

This invention relates to means for use in shoe machines for positioning and holding shoes in proper-relation to means which operates thereon, the present application being a division of a copending application Serial No. 762,841, filed 'on July 23, 1947, for Letters Patent for improvements in Lasting machines. While the shoepositioning and holding 'means herein shown is intended primarily for use in lasting machines, the invention is not thus limited in its applicability.

The construction in which the invention is herein shown as embodied includes a shoe-supporting plate arranged to engage the bottom of the forepart of a shoe and thereby to position the shoe heightwise when it is presented to the machine by the operator, and for controlling a shoe of the Goodyear welt type having a weltattaching lip on its insole the plate is formed to engage the inner face of the lip on the toeend portion of the insole and thus to position the shoe also lengthwise and laterally. To clamp the shoe against the plate there is provided a toe rest which in the construction shown is carried by a support movable heightwise ofthe shoe to apply the toe rest to the shoe. Further to control the shoe, and especially to assist in holding it against lengthwise displacement, a last pin is arranged to engage the heel end of the last in the usual spindle hole, the last pin being carried by a support which is mounted on the movable toe rest support but is movable relatively to the latter to enable the operator to insert the last pin in the spindle hole after presenting the shoe in engagement with the shoe-positioning plate. More particularly, as herein illustrated, the last pin support is pivotally mounted on the toe rest support to swing heightwise of the shoe, the last pin also being adjustably movable in directions lengthwise of the shoe. To assist in steadying the shoe when it is presented in engagement with the shoe-positioning plate and to facilitate the insertion of the last pin in the spindle hole, the construction shown further includes a member arranged to engage the bottom of the shoe in the vicinity of its heel end.

In operating on a welt shoe the lip on the insole should be close against the above-mentioned plate at the end of the toe before the shoe is clamped between the plate and the toe rest. This is not only to insure that the shoe will be properly positioned lengthwise, but also, in a lasting machine, to insure that the lip will be properly supported by the plate against the margin of the upper inwardly over the insole.

The invention accordingly further provides a construction whereby the shoe is forced in a lengthwise direction to insure that the lip at the end of the toe will be seated firmly against the plate. For the purpose in view the last pin support, which is pivotally mounted as above described on the toe rest support, is so arranged that in response to the movement of the toe res't support toward the shoe, after the last pin has been inserted in the spindle hole in the last, the last pin forces the shoe lengthwise in a heelward direction.

The above and other features of the invention, including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and thereafter pointed out in the :claims.

pressure of the lasting means in lasting the 55 In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view partly in right-hand side elevation and partly in section, showing shoe-positioning and holding means in which the invention is embodied, the parts being shown in their starting positions;

Fig. 2 is a view on a larger scale, partly in right-hand side elevation and partly in section, of a portion of the structure shown in Fig, 1, with the parts as they appear when the shoe is clamped;

Fig, 3 is a view in front elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a, View mainly in right-hand side elevation, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the shoe-positioning and holding means, with the parts tipped at a different angle than in Figs. 1 and 2; and r V Fig. 5 is a view partly in right-hand side elevation and partly in section of a portion of the machine to which the invention is shown as applied, illustrating more clearly one of the functions of the shoe-positioning means.

The lasting machine of which the shoe-positioning and holding means herein shown is designed to form a part includes toe-embracing wipers 2 (Fig. 5) which wipe the upper around the toe end of the last heightwise of the last and thereafter wipe the marginal portion of the upper inwardly over the insole of a Goodyear welt shoe on the last and press it against a welt-attaching lip a on the insole, as fully described in the abovementioned copending application. In the toelasting operation the shoe occupies an inclined position bottom downward. For controlling the shoe there is provided a shoe support 4 comprising a block 6 fast on the upper end of a rod 8 which is guided for upward and downward movements in an inclined path in a bearing l6 (Fig. 4) formed in a crossbar l2 secured at its opposite ends to the frame of the machine. Detachably held on the block 6 by means of the same construction as disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,444,141, granted on June 29, 1948, on

an application of mine is a plate l4 formed to 4 wardly from the flange 62 on the rod 34 into a hole in the plate 58 is a pin 68 to prevent the toe rest from turning relatively to the member 56. Pivotally supported on ears 16 (Figs. 2 and 3) on the front of the plate 58 by means of a pin '12 are two forwardly and downwardly extending arms 14 connected together in spaced relation to support the bottom of the shoe at or near its heel end. It will be understood that this rod is adjusted at the proper height thus to support the shoe when the bottom of its forepart rests evenly on the curved upper face of the plate l4. The movable rod 8 on which the block 6 is mounted has a ball-shaped lower end confined in a socket formed in a lever 20 which is pivotally supported at one end on a link 22 pivotally mounted on a bracket 24 on the frame of the machine. The other end of the lever 20 is provided with a roll 26 engaged by a path cam (not shown) formed in one side of a gear wheel 28 fast on a cam shaft 36. By this cam upward and downward movements are imparted to the rod 8 and the shoe support 4 at the proper times in a cycle of operations of the machine, as and for the purpose explained in the copending application.

Substantially at the beginning of the cycle of operations the forepart of the shoe is clamped against the plate [4 by a toe rest 32 mounted on a rod 34 (Fig. 2) supported by a yoke 36 which .g:

has two downwardly extending arms 38 (Fig. 3) slidingly mounted in guides 48 on the frame. Pivotally mounted on the lower ends of these arms are blocks 42 engaged by the forked front ends of rearwardly and upwardly extending levers 44 which are pivotally mounted at their rear ends on a rod 46 on the frame. Supported on each lever is a roll 48 engaged by a path cam formed in one side of a cam wheel 56 fast on the cam shaft 30, one of these path cams being shown at 52 in Figs. 1 and 2. By these cams downward and upward movements are imparted at the proper times to the yoke 36.

Pivotally mounted on a pin 54 in the yoke 36 is a member 56 portions of which extend over and under the yoke as shown in Fig. 2, and secured on the front of this member is a plate 58 (Figs. 2 and 3). The member 56 and the plate 58 cooperate to provide a bearing for the rod 34 on which the toe rest 32 is mounted and also to provide a recess for a spring 60 the lower end of which is seated on a cup-shaped flange 62 formed on the upper end of the rod. Threaded in a socket; in the rod is a screw 64 which extends upwardly through the spring and through recesses in the member '56 and the plate 58 and has thereon a flange 66 arranged to engage the member and the plate to limit downward movement of the toe rest under the influence of the spring. It will be understood that by turning the screw the toe rest may be adjusted in a. downward or an upward direction relatively to the yoke 36, and that upon downward movement of the yoke the spring 60 is yieldable after engagement of the toe rest with the shoe. Extending downeach other at their lower ends by a tie bolt 16 to swing upwardly and downwardly in unison about the axis of the pin 12. These arms are provided with slots 18 extending lengthwise thereof to provide guideways for a block a portion of which extends downwardly and rearwardly beyond the slots between the arms and has thereon an ear 82 provided with a pin 84 on which is pivotally mounted a last pin 86 arranged to enter the usual spindle hole in the heel end of the last. Pivotally mounted on a pin 81 on the arms 14 is an eccentric 88 positioned between the arms and having a handle 98 extending therefrom, the eccentric being arranged to engage the top face of the block 86 to secure the block in any position of adjustment along the slots [8. Initially the arms 14 are positioned as shown in Fig. 1, downward movement thereof about the axis of the pin' 12 being limited by engagement of portions thereof near the pin with the front face of the plate 58. After the operator has mounted a shoe on the plate [4 and the heel-end support 18 in the position determined by the plate, having first swung the arms 14 upwardly, he inserts the last pin 86 in the spindle hole in the last, adjusting the block 88, if necessary, along the arms 14 and then looking it by the eccentric 88. When the yoke 36 is thereafter moved downwardly to apply the toe rest 32 to the shoe, the arms 14, in response to that movement, swing a short distance about the axis of the pin 12 with a togglelike action tending to force the last pin 86 in a heelward direction. In this manner force is applied to the last and shoe to seat the lip on the insole at the end of the toe firmly against the plate I4. This insures that the shoe is properly positioned lengthwise and also that the lip will be properly supported by the plate against the pressure of the wipers 2 when they wipe the upper inwardly over the insole. In the toe-lasting operation the last pin 86 assists in holding the shoe against lengthwise movement in a heelward direction. For better insurance that the last pin will be held firmly against any force tending to displace the shoe in a heelward direction, the top face of the block 80 which is, engaged by the eccentric 88 is inclined relatively to the arms 14 lengthwise of the arms to render the eccentric more effective as a lock for the last pin.

The ball-shaped lower end of the rod 8 permits the shoe support 4 to swing in directions widthwise of the shoe about the axis of the rod. The pin 54 is coaxial with the rod 8, and therefore the toe rest 32 and the last pin 86 may swing with the shoe support about the same axis. Such swinging movement may take place in the course of the operation of the machine in response to pressure of the wipers 2 on one side or the other of the toe end of the shoe to permit the shoe to adjust itself in this manner to the wipers.

The manner of operation and use of the construction described having already been fully explained, no further explanation is necessary.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a shoe machine, positioning means arranged to engage the bottom of a shoe on a last,

a toe rest for engaging the shoe on' the topof the forepart and for clamping the shoe against said positioning means, a support for said toe rest mounted for movement heightwise of the shoe to apply the -toe rest to the shoe, a last pin for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole, and a support for said last pin mounted on said movable toe rest support and movable relatively thereto to enable the operator to insert the last pin in the spindle hole after the shoe has been presented in engagement with said positioning means.

2. In a shoe machine, positioning means arranged to engage the bottom of a shoe on a last, a toe rest for engaging the shoe on the top of the forepart and for clamping the-shoe against said positioning means, a support for said toe rest mounted for movement heightwise of the shoe to apply the toe rest to the shoe, a last pin for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole, and a support for said last pin pivotally mounted on said movable toe rest support for swinging movement heightwise of the shoe to enable the operator to insert the last pin in said spindle hole after the shoe has been presented in engagement with said positioning means, the last pin being adjustable on its support in directions lengthwise of the shoe.

3. In a shoe machine, positioning means arranged to engage the bottom of a shoe on a last, a toe rest for engaging the shoe on the top of the forepart and for clamping the shoe against said positioning means, a support for said toe rest mounted for movement heightwise of the shoe to apply the toe rest to the shoe, a last pin for en- 3 gaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole, a support for said last pin mounted on said movable toe rest support for swinging movement heightwise of the shoe to enable the operator to insert the last pin in said spindle hole after the the toe rest support and also relatively movable shoe has been presented in engagement with said positioning means, said last pin support including a member adjustable in directions lengthwise of the shoe and on which the last pin is pivotally mounted, and means for locking said member in any position of adjustment.

4. In a shoe machine, a shoe support arranged to engage the bottom of a shoe on a last when the shoe is presented to the machine by the operator, a toe rest for engaging the shoe on the top of the forepart and for clamping the shoe against said shoe support, a support for said toe rest mounted for movement heightwise of the shoe to apply the toe rest to the shoe, a last pin for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole, and a support for said last pin mounted on said movable toe rest support and constructed and arranged to permit the last pin to be moved by the operator lengthwise and heightwise oi" the shoe into position to engage the last in its spindle hole after the shoe has been presented in engagement with the shoe support but before the toe rest is applied to the shoe.

5. In a shoe machine, a shoe support arranged to engage the bottom of a shoe on a last when the shoe is presented to the machine by the operator, a toe rest for engaging the shoe on the top of the forepart and for clamping the shoe against said shoe support, a support for said toe rest mounted for movement heightwise of the shoe to apply the toe rest to the shoe, a last pin for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole, a support for said last pin mounted on said movable toe rest support and comprising members movable together heightwise of the shoe relatively to lengthwise of the shoe to permit the operator to insert the last pin in said spindle hole after the shoe has been presented in engagement with the shoe support but before the toe rest is applied to the shoe, and means for preventing further relative movement of. said members lengthwise of the shoe after the last pin has thus been inserted.

6. In a shoe machine, a shoe support arranged to engage the bottom of a shoe on a last when the shoe is presented to the machine by the operator, said shoe support including a member for engaging the bottom of the toe end of the shoe and another member for engaging the bottom of the shoe in the vicinity of its heel end, a toe rest for engaging the shoe on the top of the forepart and for clamping the shoe against said firstnamed member, a support for said toe rest mounted for movement heightwise of the shoe to apply the toe rest to the shoe, a last pin for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole, and a support for said last pin mounted on said movable toe rest support and movable relatively thereto to enable the operator to insert the last pin in the spindle hole after the shoe has been presented in engagement with said members.

'7. In a shoe machine, a shoe support arranged to engage the bottom of a shoe on a last when the shoe is presented to the machine by the operator, said shoe support including a member for engaging the bottom of the toe end of the shoe and another member for engaging the bottom of the shoe in the vicinity of its heel end, a toe rest for engaging the shoe on the top of the forepart and for clamping the shoe against said firstnamed member, a support for said toe rest mounted for movement heightwise of the shoe to apply the toe rest to the shoe, a last pin for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole, a support for said last pin pivotally mounted on said movable toe rest support for swinging movement heightwise of the shoe to enable the operator to insert the last pin in said spindle hole after 0 the shoe has been presented in engagement with,

said members, the last pin being adjustable on its support in directions lengthwise of the shoe, and means for securing it in adjusted position.

8, In a shoe machine, a member constructed and arranged to engage the bottom face of the toe end of the insole of a welt shoe on a last when the shoe is presented to the machine by the operator and also to engage the inner face of a lip on the insole at its toe end, another member arranged to cooperate with said first-named member to clamp and hold the shoe between them, and means for forcing the shoe in a lengthwise direction and for thereby seating the lip of the insole at the end of the toe firmly against said first-named member before the shoe is thus clamped.

9. In a shoe machine, a member constructed and arranged to engage the bottom face of the toe end of the insole of a welt shoe on a last when the shoe is presented to the machine by the operator and also to engage the inner face of a lip on the insole at its toe end, another member arranged to cooperate with said first-namedmember to clamp and hold the shoe between them, a last pin for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole, and means arranged to act through said last pin to force the lengthwise direction and thereby to seat the lip of the insole firmly against said first-named member before the shoe is thus clamped.

10. In a shoe machine, a member constructed shoe in a and arranged'to engage the bottom face of the toe end of the insole of a welt shoe on a last when the shoe is presented to the machine by the operator and also to engage the inner face of a lip on the insole at its toe end, another member arranged to cooperate with said first-named member to clamp and hold the shoe between them, means for efiecting relative movement of said members thus to clamp the shoe, and automatic means for forcing the shoe in a lengthwise direction in the course of the relative movement of said members and for thereby seating the lip of the insole at the end of the toe firmly against said first-named member.

11. In a shoe machine, positioning means arranged to engage the bottom face of the toe end of a welt shoe insole on a last and the inner face of a lip on the insole to position the shoe and last, a toe rest for engaging the shoe on the top of the forepart, means for effecting relative movement of said positioning means and toe rest to clamp the shoe between'them, and means arranged to act in response to said relative movement to force the shoe in a lengthwise direction and thereby to seat the lip of the insole at the end of the toe firmly against said positioning means.-

12. In a shoe machine, positioning means arranged to engage the bottom face of the toe end of a welt shoe insole on a last and the inner face of a lip on the insole to position the shoe and last, a toe rest for engaging the shoe on the top of the forepart and for clamping the shoe against said positioning means, a support for said toe rest mounted for movement heightwise of the shoe to apply the toe rest to the shoe, and means for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole and for forcing the shoe by such engagement in a lengthwise direction to seat the lip of the insole at the end of the toe firmly against said positioning means in response to that movement of said support.

13. In a shoe machine, positioning means arranged to engage the bottom face of the toe end of a welt shoe insole on a last and the inner face of a lip on the insole to position the shoe and last, a toe rest for engaging the shoe on the top of the forepart and for clamping the shoe against said positioning means, a support for said toe rest mounted for movement heightwise of the shoe to apply the toe rest to the shoe, a last pin for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole, and a support for said last pin mounted on said toe rest support for movement to force the shoe in a lengthwise direction and thereby to seat the lip of the insole at the end of the toe firmly against said positioning means in response to the movement of the toe rest support.

14. In a shoe machine, positioning means arranged to engage the bottom face of the toe end of a welt shoe insole on a last and the inner face of a lip on the insole to position the shoe and last, a toe rest for engaging the shoe on the top of the forepart and for clamping the shoe against said positioning means, a support for said toe rest mounted for movement heightwise of the shoe to apply the toe rest to the shoe, a last pin for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole, and a support for said last pin pivotally mounted on said toe rest support for swinging movement with a toggle-like action to force the shoe in a lengthwise direction and thereby to seat the lip of the insole at the end of the toe firmly against said positioning means in response to the movement of the toe rest support.

15. In a shoe machine, a shoe support arranged to engage the bottom face of the insole of a welt shoe on a last when the shoe is presented to the machine by the operator, said shoe support including a member for engaging the bottom of the toe end of the insole and the inner face of a lip on the insole and also a member for engaging the bottom of the insole in the vicinity of its 'heel end, a toe rest for engaging the shoe on the top of the forepart and for clamping the shoe against said first-named member, a support for said toe rest, means for effecting relative movement of said shoe support and toe rest support to cause the toe rest to engage the shoe, a last pin for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole, and a support for said last pin mounted for swinging movement in response to the relative movement of the shoe support and the toe rest support to force the shoe in a lengthwise direction and thereby to seat the lip of the insole at the end of the toe firmly against said first-named member.

LLOYD G. MILLER.

No references cited. 

